​When I sit down to do research on the latest trends in design, I feel as though I am always seeing more of the same. Every kitchen has painted cabinets. More specifically, every kitchen has white painted cabinets. I have LOVED this trend for the most part. I have especially loved that it is now trending to paint your cabinet’s colors other than white which helps mix things up. However, as I have been working on creating a welcoming environment in my own home, I have found that all of my painted finishes lack warmth for everyday living. This is not just because I like a cooler color palette; I finally realized that what was missing was just the simplicity of wood. I had painted all of my wood and it made everything seem so unnatural.

Because I had already painted my cabinets and I loved the colors, I was able to incorporate wood elements in my own home in other ways, but it did get me thinking…

Why are natural wood cabinets not more popular? I don’t mean your traditional cherry or mahogany wood… or any of the other dark, warm, red toned woods that would not go with today’s trending need to be “light, bright, and airy.” I mean just plain and simple – leave it alone – natural wood.